When the Dead Speak

by Sheila Bugler

Secrets can be fatal. But so can the truth.When the murdered body of Lauren Shaw is discovered laid out on the altar of St Mary the Virgin church in Eastbourne it sends a chill to the core of those who have lived in the area for a long time. They remember another woman, also young and pretty, whose slain corpse was placed in the same spot 60 years ago.

Dee Doran is as intrigued as the rest but focused on her investigation of the whereabouts of a missing person from the Polish community. The police weren't interested but Dee's journalistic instincts tell her something is amiss.

But as she starts asking questions Dee finds the answers all point to the same conclusion - someone is keeping secrets and they will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

A chilling and gripping crime thriller that fans of Fiona Barton and Alex Marwood will love.

What readers are saying about When the Dead Speak'Sheila Bugler presents a straight-forward plot that is highly intriguing & full of well-rounded characters, sprinkled with several red herrings & lots of clever twists & turns. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie at her innovative peak, this is the best crime novel I've read in 2020.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This was an amazing book. I loved how it unravelled from Emma's diary pages, and the investigating of the murders... I was on the edge of my seat.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I finished reading this at 2am because I couldn't put it down. Anyone who likes a good crime story will absolutely love this.' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Brilliant, the storyline and characters just kept me wanting to read page after page...' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I need the next book in the series now!!' NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

358 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2022

About the author

I'm the author of the Ellen Kelly and Dee Doran crime novels. My first stand alone novel, The Lucky Eight, is published in July 2021.

I grew up in a small town in the west of Ireland. After studying Psychology at University College Galway, I left Ireland and worked in Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Argentina and London before finally settling in Eastbourne, where I now live with my husband, Sean, and our two children.

Reviews

[Karen Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apart from the odd typing error, I enjoyed this book. Dee (the protagonist) was a bit annoying at times, getting grumpy with her partner for not being honest with her, when she was keeping things from him herself, but, despite this, I enjoyed the pace and plot of this book, and would recommend it to crime fiction fans.

[Mike Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary that I have not come across Sheila Bugler's books before. This is the perfect investigative journalist procedural (of course the police are involved) and it was one of several books given to me as a Christmas present by my neighbour. Why this book in particular? Because it's set in Eastbourne, a seaside town I know so well and have visited many times located just twenty miles along the coast from me. It gave me a little thrill to read that the DCI lives in a cottage along the road from East Dean to Birling Gap, a road I have travelled many times. (Sheila Bugler lives in Eastbourne).

Sheila handles this story of two murders that occurred sixty years apart with great skill, developing the tension to an often unbearable point as Dee Doran, local journalist, and girlfriend of DI Ed Mitchell, is intrigued by a murder that sends shockwaves through the community. A body is discovered laid out on the altar of an Eastbourne church. Sixty years earlier another woman was found in the exact same spot. Is there a connection between the two. Whilst Dee is told by the police to keep out of their investigation she starts asking questions. Someone is keeping secrets and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

When the Dead Speak is one of the best thrillers I have ever read and I have learned that this is number two in a series of four. I have ordered the first in the series - there are questions about Dee's earlier life that I need answers to.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a beautifully crafted thriller.